The Russia connectionNew U.S. sanctions on Russia for election interference, infrastructure cyberattacks, NoPetya

Published 15 March 2018

The U.S. Treasury has issued its strongest sanctions yet against Russia in response to what it called “ongoing nefarious attacks.” The move targets five entities and nineteen individuals. Among the institutions targeted in the new sanctions for election meddling were Russia’s top intelligence services, Federal Security Service (FSB) and Main Intelligence Directorate (GRU), the two organizations whose hackers, disinformation specialists, and outside contractors such as the Internet Research Agency (IRA) troll farm were behind — and are still engaged in — a broad and sustained campaign to undermine U.S. democracy.

The U.S. Treasury has issued its strongest sanctions yet against Russia in response to what it called “ongoing nefarious attacks.” The move targets five entities and nineteen individuals.

The American sanctions announced on Thursday targeted many of the same Russian organizations and operatives identified by Robert S. Mueller III, the special counsel, in an indictment that outlined a broad, coordinated, and sustained attempt to spread disinformation and propaganda to disrupt American democracy and, eventually, influence the vote on behalf of Donald Trump. The sanctions also responded to other Russian cyberattacks, including a previously undisclosed Russian attempt to penetrate the American energy grid.

“The administration is confronting and countering malign Russian cyberactivity, including their attempted interference in U.S. elections, destructive cyberattacks, and intrusions targeting critical infrastructure,” Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said in a statement. “These targeted sanctions are a part of a broader effort to address the ongoing nefarious attacks emanating from Russia.”

Among the institutions targeted in the new sanctions for election meddling were Russia’s top intelligence services, Federal Security Service (FSB) and Main Intelligence Directorate (GRU), the two organizations whose hackers, disinformation specialists, and outside contractors such as the Internet Research Agency (IRA) troll farm were behind a broad and sustained campaign to help Donald Trump win the 2016 election. The IRA was also included in the Treasury sanctions. The IRA was recently indicted by Special Counsel Robert Mueller for interfering in the 2016 U.S. presidential election.

The New York Times reports that the FSB is being sanctioned for the use of cyber tools in targeting U.S. officials, “including cybersecurity, diplomatic, military, and white house personnel.”

The GRU, as well as a number of its top officials, is being sanctioned for its direct involvement in “interfering in the 2016 U.S. election through cyber-enabled activities.”

The IRA and thirteen individuals connected to it are being sanctioned for using fake identities online as well as posting thousands of online ads in an effort to sow confusion among U.S. voters.

In addition to the election meddling, the attacks cited by the Treasury Department included the NotPetya cyberattack that caused billions of dollars in damage in the United States, Europe and Asia in what the department called “the most destructive and costly cyberattack in history.”